Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Duke
Duke's Late Inning Heroics Doom Xavier
03.07.07 | Baseball
March 7, 2007
DURHAM, N.C. - Xavier took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning but one swing of the bat by Duke's Gabriel Saade allowed the Blue Devils to claim the 4-3 win in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field. The loss drops the Musketeers to 1-13 overall and Duke now improves to 15-1 on the season.
Duke would strike right from the start as the home team got the opening inning started with a one-out single. After advancing to second on a balk, the runner took third on a stolen base and crossed the plate on an errant throw by the catcher to put the score at 1-0.
Xavier would answer in the top of the second as Sean Farrell opened the inning with a double to left center. Matt Waskerwitz would move the sophomore into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before Robbie Kelley was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners with one out. Freshman Drew Schmidt earned XU's only RBI on the day after grounding out to second and allowing Farrell to cross the plate and tie the score at 1-1.
The top of the fourth would bring the first lead for the Blue and White as Farrell again lead off the inning by reaching safely. A costly Blue Devil error would put the sophomore on first with no outs. Waskerwitz would follow by reaching safely on a fielder's choice and Kelley was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Schmidt would ground into the double play but it allowed Farrell to score XU's second run and take the lead 2-1.
Charlie Leesman, who made his second start of the season, threw six innings without allowing an earned run before surrendering a solo homerun in the seventh to knot the score at 2-2. But just like earlier in the game, XU responded in the visitor's half with another run to give the lead back to Xavier at 3-2.
Entering the final inning, XU gave the ball to righty Michael Lucas to close out the contest. The junior would record two quick outs after a ground out and strikeout put Duke against the wall. With two outs, a single would put the tying run on first with the winning run coming to the plate. Duke's shortstop Saade would only need one swing to send the home crowd home happy and leave the Musketeers with the loss.
Farrell would record the only multi-hit game for the Blue and White as he finished 2-for-4 with a double and single. Steve Brown, Adam Lipski and Jordan Wolf would each account for the other three hits as XU could only pound out three runs on five hits during the afternoon.
Leesman had his best outing of his young career and ended his day allowing only one earned off a solo homerun in the seventh. He allowed only seven hits in 7.2 innings with only one walk to combine with five strikeouts. Brett Greenwell came in to finish the eighth, retiring the only batter he faced before giving way to Lucas in the ninth.
The Musketeers will wrap up their spring trip this weekend with a three-game set against Western Carolina. The first pitch is set for 3:00 pm at Childress Field at Hennon Stadium.
